Apologies to the people who were sceptical and or negative

[saint_stevo]

well i made it through the night.......

 

And it wasn't all a dream.

 

Damn it

[Alain Perrin]

When I posted we would get only 6 pts from the first 6 games I hoped to be proved wrong and I was !! I said that our hopes would depend on those experienced players left who nobody else wanted to buy/pay their wages. Nothing has changed has it ? What annoys me particularly is those who said we had no option but to go with the kids. How about appointing a manager with proven track record in the championship and finding experienced players from the lower leagues. Bristol City can do it successfully why not us ? Losing 5000 fans per home game @ £20 = £100,000 x 23 = £2.3m. 4 decent players @ £10k per week = £2m is that rocket science ?

 

Except it isn't that is it.

 

5000 fans probably half of which are concessions (kids, students, OAPs) so it is only probably about £1.5m. That also doesn't include signing on fees, agent fees, getting the right players for the right positions, your experienced manager who will need paying, plus his staff, contracts that need paying off (both to get him and get rid of our existing).

 

It's nice to think it is easy to do the maths, but it isn't. I believe kids were the only viable option that we had and I don't blame Lowe for pursuing it.

[s0108787]

I make no apologies for being optomistic. The season is far from over.

[Snowballs2]

Me too. JP's failure to make proper use of Stern John - the one proven goal scorer at this level, has eroded my faith in JP's judgement. I will not return to the SMS until the team are winning games - so I could be away for a very long time.[/quote

 

And were you not one of the sanctimonious ones who were very critical of us at the start when we said it was NOT going to work?

[SaintRobbie]

Me too. JP's failure to make proper use of Stern John - the one proven goal scorer at this level, has eroded my faith in JP's judgement. I will not return to the SMS until the team are winning games - so I could be away for a very long time.

 

Blimey. Never thought I'd read that.

 

Well, I'm very glad that finally most people are now seeing through the weeds and has managed to work out:

 

1. JP is probably a fraud a la Clifford. Certainly didnt set the Dutch league on fire with Wotte did he? But then again he has sold his soul to Director of Football Rupert Lowe and is doing his £-driven bidding with regards to who is being played.

 

2. Lowe causes division and lack of optimism from fans, press, shareholders and business investors.

 

3. You can't win anything with kids.

 

4. The only hope for Southampton FC is a takeover and removal of ALL key shareholders.

 

This cloggy-Lowe kid experiment was destined for failure from its very inception. I too - like Alpine - would still love to be proven wrong, but can't see it happening.

 

Saints WILL relegate and WILL remain in League 1 for several years under Lowe and Wilde.

 

 

WE MUST ALL DO WHATEVER WE CAN - FANS, SHAREHOLDERS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MIKE WILDE to SELL THIS CLUB.

 

Only a takeover will now bring back the optimism and punchdrunk fans. That and a respected British manager with zeal and energy for success.

 

Saints have a huge fan base. Good infrastructure. Good assets. Good location. Lots of potential. LOTS. It's a saleable commodity - no doubts about it... NOW LETS BANG HEADS TOGETHER AND GET THIS CLUB SOLD.

[Snowballs2]

Apathy FC ???we got that by the wheelbarrow load...we have been conned yet again by Rupert and his total football promise. You know the one...he needed areason to play a load of cheap youths that were NEVER ready for this league. That is why he brought in the inexperienced Dutch duo rather than a manager with knowledge of this English league...he could hide behind TOTAL FOOTBALL when it all went belly up. Trouble is...it went belly up earlier than he thought it would. Many of us did not buy it from the start and got pilloried for it on here

[Whitey Grandad]

Apathy FC ???we got that by the wheelbarrow load...we have been conned yet again by Rupert and his total football promise. You know the one...he needed areason to play a load of cheap youths that were NEVER ready for this league. That is why he brought in the inexperienced Dutch duo rather than a manager with knowledge of this English league...he could hide behind TOTAL FOOTBALL when it all went belly up. Trouble is...it went belly up earlier than he thought it would. Many of us did not buy it from the start and got pilloried for it on here

Along with others I raised my suspicions but I must admit that I didn't expect it all to go belly-up quite so soon.

[itchen]

What a curious thread. Why should anyone apologise to anyone because they previously took a different position?

 

Anyway, I still have faith that we will get better and that we will climb up the table - probably not very far up but enough to be safe. But, even if I didn't believe that, I still can't see how coming on here and being negative about everything helps the situation any more than coming on and being positive could be seen as harmful.

 

We have different opinions. It's part of the territory of being a fan. The only thing that gets me down about that is the small group of posters who can't see the good in anything the club does. That's a bit wearing but I've found, since I put the worst offender on ignore, my browsing experience has been much improved (except when people quote him when replying).

[saint_stevo]

Birmingham at home in the cup and Derby away in the League seem a long time ago now eh

[Whitey Grandad]

What a curious thread. Why should anyone apologise to anyone because they previously took a different position?

 

Anyway, I still have faith that we will get better and that we will climb up the table - probably not very far up but enough to be safe. But, even if I didn't believe that, I still can't see how coming on here and being negative about everything helps the situation any more than coming on and being positive could be seen as harmful.

 

We have different opinions. It's part of the territory of being a fan. The only thing that gets me down about that is the small group of posters who can't see the good in anything the club does. That's a bit wearing but I've found, since I put the worst offender on ignore, my browsing experience has been much improved (except when people quote him when replying).

Agreed, no apology necessary, but it's possible to be sceptical without being negative. We all sit at the ground in different seats and we all have different views about how the club is being run. That's the point of a forum.

[Dark Munster]

Me too. JP's failure to make proper use of Stern John - the one proven goal scorer at this level, has eroded my faith in JP's judgement. I will not return to the SMS until the team are winning games - so I could be away for a very long time.

 

Wow, you are the same "Professor" who for months has declared on this board that those who stay away cannot be real fans? The same "Professor" who said that those criticizing the setup and this experiment were secretly hoping we would lose? Wow.

 

And the same "Professor" who (along with Sundance Beast and Schoolboy) vociferously backed Pearson's sacking, because of NP's record of "only 3 wins".

 

W 3, D 7, L 3 doesn't seem so bad now eh, Professor?

 

Sacking Sturrock and replacing him with Wigley cost us relegation IMHO. I think history is about to repeat itself with NP and JP. In both cases Lowe wanted to get rid of the man who wasn't "his manager".

 

Hopefully JP can turn this disaster around, but if not, and the unthinkable happens, will this mean the end of Lowe? Will he finally fall on his sword, or will he blame it all on Crouch and stay put, as Saints sink to league 1 and possibly lower?

[Snowballs2]

And the same "Professor" who (along with Sundance Beast and Schoolboy) vociferously backed Pearson's sacking, because of NP's record of "only 3 wins".

 

W 3, D 7, L 3 doesn't seem so bad now eh, Professor?

 

Sacking Sturrock and replacing him with Wigley cost us relegation IMHO. I think history is about to repeat itself with NP and JP. In both cases Lowe wanted to get rid of the man who wasn't "his manager".

 

Hopefully JP can turn this disaster around, but if not, and the unthinkable happens, will this mean the end of Lowe? Will he finally fall on his sword, or will he blame it all on Crouch and stay put, as Saints sink to league 1 and possibly lower?

 

Lowe will NEVER fall on his sword...he is too proud and misguided

[Roman]

Hopefully JP can turn this disaster around, but if not, and the unthinkable happens, will this mean the end of Lowe? Will he finally fall on his sword, or will he blame it all on Crouch and stay put, as Saints sink to league 1 and possibly lower?

 

You only have to look at the noise being made by Lowe's proxies on here today for an answer to that. The disaster is the fault of the ungrateful fans.

[Snowballs2]

I make no apologies for being optomistic. The season is far from over.

 

 

Hello Rupert !!!

[Snowballs2]

There has been a deafening silence from two particular Lowe luvvies today. I wonder if at last the penny has dropped

[Ponty]

I don't understand why, at the start of the season, many of you argued with Professor about his point of view, claiming he was deluded and wrong, yet now he's come around and seen the evidence himself (changing his opinion in the process) you're still giving him grief.

 

Which is right then; disagreeing with you or agreeing with you?

[Snowballs2]

I don't understand why, at the start of the season, many of you argued with Professor about his point of view, claiming he was deluded and wrong, yet now he's come around and seen the evidence himself (changing his opinion in the process) you're still giving him grief.

 

Which is right then; disagreeing with you or agreeing with you?

 

Not seeing the light in the first place and being so bloody pompous to us realists

[eelpie]

Listening to him on the radio this morning it seems JP has realised what most have been saying all pre season he sounded as though he had enough and was lost.

We need experience to go along with the youth - to gamble the whole season on Killer being fit at the back was ludicrous. Thomas and several of the senior pros were told they were "surplus to requirements" so is it any wonder things look bleak not exactly great for morale.

We cannot keep playing the skint card...we have to find a solution quick get in some loans like we did with Lucketti or Delldays will have nothing to keep on about people enjoying the CC every other post as we will be on our way to League 2 with Bournemouth after points deductions.

 

Correct.

 

JPV looked defeated on the touchline against Barnsley too.

He is now realising his mistake in attempting to run a CCC team with Lowe dictating who is to play and who is not, who is to be signed and who is not, and seeing Saints experienced professionals sold or sidelined.

 

The next weeks are going to be a challenge for everyone.

[Snowballs2]

Correct.

 

JPV looked defeated on the touchline against Barnsley too.

He is now realising his mistake in attempting to run a CCC team with Lowe dictating who is to play and who is not, who is to be signed and who is not, and seeing Saints experienced professionals sold or sidelined.

 

The next weeks are going to be a challenge for everyone.

 

 

I can see Jan the man quiting shortly...the stress can't be doing him any good.

[offix]

I don't understand why, at the start of the season, many of you argued with Professor about his point of view, claiming he was deluded and wrong, yet now he's come around and seen the evidence himself (changing his opinion in the process) you're still giving him grief.

 

Which is right then; disagreeing with you or agreeing with you?

 

Not giving him grief at all. Just expressing my genuine surprise at his turn around, and realizing how sad a state this club is in that it causes one with such support for the management, the experiment, and the system to hold up his hand and say "I give". Professor is a big man for being able to do that.

[Guest Hacienda]

I don't understand why, at the start of the season, many of you argued with Professor about his point of view, claiming he was deluded and wrong, yet now he's come around and seen the evidence himself (changing his opinion in the process) you're still giving him grief.

 

Which is right then; disagreeing with you or agreeing with you?

 

If he hadn't been such a pompous arse in the 1st place it wouldn't have been an issue.

[saint_stevo]

Who is this Professor person?

[Guest Hacienda]

Who is this Professor person?

 

A pompous arse.

[saint1977]

I don't understand why, at the start of the season, many of you argued with Professor about his point of view, claiming he was deluded and wrong, yet now he's come around and seen the evidence himself (changing his opinion in the process) you're still giving him grief.

 

Which is right then; disagreeing with you or agreeing with you?

 

Agreed - with the exception of Scooby & Sundance we are SFC fans on this forum and all feeling equally pig-sick at years of boardroom inepitude. The fans should at least stick together, we're all that's left of SFC until we have new owners that want to restore at least some pride. Professor is welcome on this board.

[pittdogg]

Nah, bring back Pearson.

 

100% totally agreed

[Whitey Grandad]

Agreed - with the exception of Scooby & Sundance we are SFC fans on this forum and all feeling equally pig-sick at years of boardroom inepitude. The fans should at least stick together, we're all that's left of SFC until we have new owners that want to restore at least some pride. Professor is welcome on this board.

And a welcome from me too. It's because we all care so much that we have such strong feelings. Many's the time that I wish I didn't.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

I can see Jan the man quiting shortly...the stress can't be doing him any good.

 

 

It is a shame, but he does sound as if he is getting rather depressed.

 

I have obviously been one of the critics of the "experiment" from the outset, but I don't like to see people out of their depth and having their health suffer as a result, so for his sake I hope the guy is a lot more resilient than he is begining to sound.

[puff the magic dragon]

I can see Jan the man quiting shortly...the stress can't be doing him any good.

 

I don't think Wilde will be far behind. The bloke makes Kevin Keegan look like a stayer.

[70's Mike]

Agreed - with the exception of Scooby & Sundance we are SFC fans on this forum and all feeling equally pig-sick at years of boardroom inepitude. The fans should at least stick together, we're all that's left of SFC until we have new owners that want to restore at least some pride. Professor is welcome on this board.

 

Agreed the current situation effects us all , whether we could say "i told you so " or not

[scooby]

You were right, i may even owe that nutter who runs the ultra negative forum an apology, SF76 or similar.

 

 

Don't you dare. Don't you dare apologise to that vile group who, rather than support the club they profess to love, have done nothing but attempt to take it apart from day one of the new regime. They should be ashamed.

[Roman]

Don't you dare. Don't you dare apologise to that vile group who, rather than support the club they profess to love, have done nothing but attempt to take it apart from day one of the new regime. They should be ashamed.

 

Scooby, you should meet puff the magic dragon. Look two posts up. He feels just as you do about those awful people.

[Snowballs2]

Don't you dare. Don't you dare apologise to that vile group who, rather than support the club they profess to love, have done nothing but attempt to take it apart from day one of the new regime. They should be ashamed.

 

 

Scoobs as they say over there...hindsight is 20/20 vision...try getting some its one of the few things in life that are free. All it costs is the effort for you to use a few grey cells in your brain.

[saint_stevo]

Don't you dare. Don't you dare apologise to that vile group who, rather than support the club they profess to love, have done nothing but attempt to take it apart from day one of the new regime. They should be ashamed.

 

It seems they have closed that forearm down now anywho.

 

I got close to it tho, logged in and all sorts. Snapped out of it, it was in the midst of the depression after the Rotherham match.

 

Although seeing the goals we conceded on the box last night, it was even more depressing! Balls bouncing on heads, tackles going past our keeper, and Bart laying down as a ball went in over his head. Horrible

[Polaroid Saint]

******** to all this. Have none of you ever heard of Positive Thinking?

 

Bhudda, Brahma, The Dali Lama?

Karma, Bad brains and PMA?

 

Come on fellas, there is a while to go yet. Lets not become a joke in football,

 

like them Geordie Boo Boys.

 

Thick n Thin lads, thick n thin!

[saint_stevo]

******** to all this. Have none of you ever heard of Positive Thinking?

 

Bhudda, Brahma, The Dali Lama?

Karma, Bad brains and PMA?

 

Come on fellas, there is a while to go yet. Lets not become a joke in football,

 

like them Geordie Boo Boys.

 

Thick n Thin lads, thick n thin!

 

I had heard of positive thinking, then i woke up and smelt the failure

[sadoldgit]

Ah, I see the doom mongers are having a field day. It is not as it we have never lost to a lower league team in the cup before (under every manager we ever had). Rotherham unbeaten at home - away team low on confidence...hmmmm

 

Instead of writing the team off we should be getting behind everyone at the club, what have we got to lose?

 

Sadly there are those who can't wait for the club to fail, they are on here like a shot the minute anything goes slightly wrong.

 

Strangely enough those same people idolise our last maager who only manged 16 points out of 13 games - a record that if it was produced by Burely or JP would have people calling for their heads.

 

Think back to all the slaggings that Burley, Davis and Wright used to get yet we were a mid table side then with a number of decent pros.

 

There are certain posters who were even slagging Burley off when he made the play offs....still think those days were cr*p do you?

 

We are where we are, the club needs support. All this slagging just makes matters worse, but hey Alpine and chums, it is what you come here for isn't it?

[Snowballs2]

FC I think that most supporters would be happy with lowe and Wilde if the approach had worked. In time all the ill feeling would have disipated with the exception of one or two diehard anti Lowes.

What we cannot forgive is that we have been conned yet again , this time with the total football as an excuse to play an inexperienced team of young players with no experience of this league and coached by a Dutch Div 3 guy with no experience of the English leagues.

In short Lowe has returned to finish off SFc

[Greenridge]

Ah, I see the doom mongers are having a field day. It is not as it we have never lost to a lower league team in the cup before (under every manager we ever had). Rotherham unbeaten at home - away team low on confidence...hmmmm

 

Instead of writing the team off we should be getting behind everyone at the club, what have we got to lose?

 

Sadly there are those who can't wait for the club to fail, they are on here like a shot the minute anything goes slightly wrong.

 

Strangely enough those same people idolise our last maager who only manged 16 points out of 13 games - a record that if it was produced by Burely or JP would have people calling for their heads.

 

Think back to all the slaggings that Burley, Davis and Wright used to get yet we were a mid table side then with a number of decent pros.

 

There are certain posters who were even slagging Burley off when he made the play offs....still think those days were cr*p do you?

 

We are where we are, the club needs support. All this slagging just makes matters worse, but hey Alpine and chums, it is what you come here for isn't it?

 

Why be so defensive SOG? It's a forum and people are entitled to their opinions, afterall we are all SFC supporters so all views count. As for referring to Pearson then you can do what you like with stats so I'll throw that he only lost 4 games in his tenure and with a team he had little influence in for the first few games before managing to bring in a few needy loanees. Jan's had the whole preseason and alledgedly this is his team so the comparison looks even more favourably towards Pearson.

 

It's even been suggested by some that it is now the fans fault that we are struggling. Not the team, or the manager, or one of the Chairmen or Board members or even backroom staff but no it's the fans

[Delmary]

FC I think that most supporters would be happy with lowe and Wilde if the approach had worked. In time all the ill feeling would have disipated with the exception of one or two diehard anti Lowes.

What we cannot forgive is that we have been conned yet again , this time with the total football as an excuse to play an inexperienced team of young players with no experience of this league and coached by a Dutch Div 3 guy with no experience of the English leagues.

In short Lowe has returned to finish off SFc

 

Rupert Lowe July 08: " Jan Poortvliet and Mark Wotte are very excited about what will be a young dynamic team determined to play fast and attractive football."

 

He can't PR spin it now. Reality has finally hit home.

[um pahars]

our last maager who only manged 16 points out of 13 games -

 

And to get to that tally after 13 games Jan will have to amass another 11 points from 6 games.

 

3 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat from our next 6 games.

 

I'd settle for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PokingFun]

Nah, bring back Pearson.

 

Sorry guys but Pearson was not going to cut it either. Look at his record with better players at his disposal. And yes, the players we had last year are better than the ones we now have. Leicester are doing ok, but then they should do in L1.

[saint1977]

Ah, I see the doom mongers are having a field day. It is not as it we have never lost to a lower league team in the cup before (under every manager we ever had). Rotherham unbeaten at home - away team low on confidence...hmmmm

 

Instead of writing the team off we should be getting behind everyone at the club, what have we got to lose?

 

Sadly there are those who can't wait for the club to fail, they are on here like a shot the minute anything goes slightly wrong.

 

Strangely enough those same people idolise our last maager who only manged 16 points out of 13 games - a record that if it was produced by Burely or JP would have people calling for their heads.

 

Think back to all the slaggings that Burley, Davis and Wright used to get yet we were a mid table side then with a number of decent pros.

 

There are certain posters who were even slagging Burley off when he made the play offs....still think those days were cr*p do you?

 

We are where we are, the club needs support. All this slagging just makes matters worse, but hey Alpine and chums, it is what you come here for isn't it?

 

Rupert Lowe July 08: " Jan Poortvliet and Mark Wotte are very excited about what will be a young dynamic team determined to play fast and attractive football."

 

He can't PR spin it now. Reality has finally hit home - perfect reply from another poster. Askham, Wilde and Lowe have never backed SFC - well barring clearing a £3m overdraft 12 years ago. There's nothing left to get behind unless there is a total change of ownership as far as a lot of fans are concerned and Lowe's boys on here can whine and moan but the gates speak for themselves. People have no confidence left in the old guard, time to give up their shares and go.

[saintbenny]

For what it's worth...this is what I think...

 

This season you effectively have to view saints as a new business...New boss..new staff (players)...unfamiliar offices (The pitch)...no money...no reputation..

 

Traditionally all business's struggle in their first year and I see the current saints side being no different. I was there on Tuesday and we were truly awful the worst I have seen in a long time. Apart from Sterns goal ( Which was a beauty) I think we could still be playing now and have not scored...however my point is that things will improve as people begin to settle. Yes of course we are missing a decent left and right back as well as probably a CM but give it time and the players playing now will develop together just like any business and we will start to see results...

 

The difference between the playing squad from this year and last year can only be likened to Chris Martin from Coldplay deciding to give up singing and take up being a pilot..yes he is going to crash 9 times out of 10 to begin with but give him a year and enough encouragement, practice and training and i bet he could turn that figure around to land 9 times out of 10 ......Rubbish comparison I know ..but you get my point

[Lunatic Fridge]

For what it's worth...this is what I think...

 

This season you effectively have to view saints as a new business...New boss..new staff (players)...unfamiliar offices (The pitch)...no money...no reputation..

 

Traditionally all business's struggle in their first year and I see the current saints side being no different. I was there on Tuesday and we were truly awful the worst I have seen in a long time. Apart from Sterns goal ( Which was a beauty) I think we could still be playing now and have not scored...however my point is that things will improve as people begin to settle. Yes of course we are missing a decent left and right back as well as probably a CM but give it time and the players playing now will develop together just like any business and we will start to see results...

 

The difference between the playing squad from this year and last year can only be likened to Chris Martin from Coldplay deciding to give up singing and take up being a pilot..yes he is going to crash 9 times out of 10 to begin with but give him a year and enough encouragement, practice and training and i bet he could turn that figure around to land 9 times out of 10 ......Rubbish comparison I know ..but you get my point

 

NO!

[Guest Hacienda]

Don't you dare. Don't you dare apologise to that vile group who, rather than support the club they profess to love, have done nothing but attempt to take it apart from day one of the new regime. They should be ashamed.

 

Just as you did last season then.

Edited 28 September, 2008 by Hacienda

[Freemantle Saint]

Don't you dare. Don't you dare apologise to that vile group who, rather than support the club they profess to love, have done nothing but attempt to take it apart from day one of the new regime. They should be ashamed.

 

 

I seem to remember when lowe was ousted you took exactly this stance about the wilde camp.

 

 

i will enjoy lowes reputation unravel us the club continue the downward spiral.

 

its called karma scooby.

 

And by the way lowes customer relations are priceless.

[stanthemanfairoak]

I wanted Pearson to stay and thought this was a mistake and a huge gamble by Lowe, but I will not desert the club like aload of rats on a sinking ship.

 

JP is clearly out of his depth and I feel sorry for him.

that about sums it all up.

[saint_stevo]

ok maybe back the other way now

[EFM]

Without going on about what may or may happen in the future, for the record, if no-one knows about a situation, such as the start of this season, then choosing to be negative takes a particularly depressing disposition, and I don't think anyone should be jealous of such a sad existence. Forget football for a second, I just can't comprehend how people live like that. It would of course, be silly also to be hugely optimistic when having no information on a subject, so caution was the only approach if you had half a brain. But what I don't understand, is how far people can take the negativity in such a short space of time, GIVEN how low their expectation levels were supposed to be. They said we'd be going down. Well, at the moment we still have a great chance of staying up don't we, so why have we given up? Fine, moan on if it carries on until after christmas. I know some will say "it might be too late by then", but where the hell do you draw the line? Lose 5 games and you're out? 3? 1? The rules seems to change each season from the same people. "No keep Burley we need stability" they said, while he wasted every last penny and put us in this position, now it's "sack jan before it's too late", even though we all know there's no other viable option.

 

I appreciate the concerns and frustrations, and I don't mean to sound as insulting as I usually do, but really, what the hell are you all talking about??! There's so many irrational or ill-thought out comments. Sack the manager, sack the board, change the formation, drop him pick him, get investment and so on. We've done it all before, it hasn't helped us. Maybe it would this time, maybe there's some amazing manager that would come in and turn it round, but it would be Lowe's choice, so I find it doubtful many of you would give him more than 5-10 games either, so what's the point?

 

Ah, I see you're already going for the "wait til after Christmas" now Adrian :-)

 

You do this year after year until it's the "but if we win the next 9 games we could mathematically get into the play offs/not get relegated.

 

I do wish I could still get good Ecstasy like you.

[Guest Hacienda]

Ah, I see you're already going for the "wait til after Christmas" now Adrian :-)

 

You do this year after year until it's the "but if we win the next 9 games we could mathematically get into the play offs/not get relegated.

 

I do wish I could still get good Ecstasy like you.

 

He also believes that "Our hungry young strikers will easily get 20 goals a season each"

 

Clearly either off his tits or totally ga ga.